Darlington Michaels
Darlington Michaels (1946?-2024) was a stage, film and TV actor.
Contents
Biography
Born Teboho Ndarana in Pimville, Soweto, he grew up in a household influenced by a mix of cultures, with a Lesotho mother and a father from East London. According his obituary, it is believed that the surname Michaels from his grandfather, a "coloured" man.
His family later relocated to the culturally rich environment of Sophiatown neighbourhood, before moving to White City.
He began his acting career as a teenager during the Apartheid years, joining the legendary Gibson Kente's company, later moving on to film and TV, becoming a household name for his portrayla of Georgie "Papa G" Zamdela on the long-running soap opera Isidingo.
He passed away on 14 September, 2024 after a short illness, survived by his wife, two children, and six grandchildren.
Contribution to SA theatre, film, media and/or performance
Stage work
His stage work began when he joined Gibson Kente’s company as a teenager, performing in works such as How Long?, I Believe, Beyond a Song and Mama and the Load.
In 1982 Michaels and McIntosh Khoale formed a group called Melisizwe Community Theatre (also referred to as Melisizwe Theatre) for which they wrote, directed and acted in The Eye (1982). Specialising in community theatre, the company uses the arts to educate and inspire young people, mainly through productions that addressed social issues such as substance abuse and teenage pregnancy. Other productions include Ababhemi (1988, created by Michaels and Duma Mnembe.
Other productions over the years have included Die Swerfjare van Poppie Nongena at the State Theatre (1983); Survival (1984 - which his 2024 obituary in wrongly claims that he had also written the play).
He later also founded the production company Melisizwe Productions and
TV and Film Work
He has appeared in a number of TV shows over the years, including: Chandies (2012), Gaz'lam, How to Ruin Christmas, Isidingo, The Road, Vula Vala.
Film work includes appearances in Strike Force (1986), Mapantsula (1988), Hearts & Minds (1995), and Cry, the Beloved Country (1995).
Sources
Andile Xaba. 2021. 'Collective memory and the construction of a historical narrative, analysis and interpretation of selected Soweto-based community plays (1984–1994)'. Unpublished PhD thesis.
https://www.tvsa.co.za/actors/viewactor.aspx?actorid=3087
TVSA [1]
Kaunda Selisho. 2024. Obituary: Celebrating the life and legacy of Darlington Michaels, South Africa's beloved 'Papa G' News24 15 September 2024. [2]
https://www.facebook.com/MelisizweCommunityTheatre/
Andile Xaba. 2022. "Writing the Elusive Narrative of Soweto-Based Community Theatre, 1984-1994" Journal of Literary Studies Vol.38 n.4[3]
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